Loan Bikes

Tiger Sport 1050
Bonneville T100
Bonneville T120
Street Triple 765 r

 

That’s a cool loaner, I do all my own servicing so I’ve never entered the world of main dealer loan bikes etc.

 

Yes, I like the idea of being able to try different bikes. I could have waited for the Tiger to be MOT'd but opted to borrow a bike for the morning!
They usually offer the Tiger Sport, so now I've taken to getting there first thing asking for something different, which is how I got the T120.

 

Had a few over the years. One brings back horrible memories.

Reluctantly, as every other loaner was out, I was given a new trophy for a 2 day loan. ( 12,000 mile service where they need a cold engine for the valve clearance check ). The trophy was a new model back then, the flagship bike.

Rode it away no problem. It's a big old beast but okay on the move and I quite enjoyed the ride. I hadn't reckoned on the return journey in Friday night commute traffic out of Birmingham to wolverhampton. It was dark, nose to tail stop/start traffic for most of the journey. Foot up, foot down, foot up, foot down for most of the 15 miles back to the shop. This was hard work. I definitely wasn't enjoying it now. Then it started snowing, oh joy. Now I had a wet and misted visor and visibility was an issue too.

I will always remember that journey as my worst bike ride ever, period.

Sorry for the ramble...

 

Best. Brand new (only a couple of hundred miles) 765R when my T100 had it's year 1 service. Terrified the life out of me once I plucked up the courage to give it some on an overtake. Settled into it quickly enough and really enjoyed my three hours or so with it but was glad to get back on a comfy bike that is less likely to chew up my licence and spit it down a drain for 12 months.

Worst. Honda Vision 50. My GS500E was in for a service back in the mid-90's and as I was only going on to work a mile or so to the other side of town (Staines) they gave me their Vision demonstrator. Got as far as the end of the road when a pillock moved over in to my lane to avoid an approaching ambulance without looking. Wrote the Vision off and scuffed the hell out of my jacket. Found out the shop were shafted by their insurance company a few weeks later so I didn't ever dare go back...

 

I had an 1199 Panigale , 765RS 1050 S3R all from Woods in Abergele
The Pani was quite exciting ! Got to high speed on the A55 VERY quickly !

 

Had a friend who ordered a gpz600, one of the first ones in the country, can’t remember how long the wait was, anyway just before it arrived he lost his licence, I went with him to pick it up and he loaned it to me for 6 months. To get it run in of course!

 

Had a friend who ordered a gpz600, one of the first ones in the country, can’t remember how long the wait was, anyway just before it arrived he lost his licence, I went with him to pick it up and he loaned it to me for 6 months. To get it run in of course!

 

I have had all sorts as loan bikes over the years, including a brand new Ducati S4 Monster belonging to Three Cross quite a few years back, long story short, landed a wheelie badly on a particularly shit bit of the A354, got a massive tank slapper and binned it, wrote it off, that went down well ... not!

 

Yes you cant beat Woods !

 

Thruxton R
Street Twin
Tiger 800

 

This is the beastie of which I mentioned earlier in this thread.
Came back to it, the thread, cos I remembered my best loaner. A Honda vfr 750. Last of the 750's before big H went over to the 800.
What a cracking machine. Glorious engine tone from that v4. Dealer wasn't very happy when I returned the bike later in the day. I had a sortie into Wales on it. Just couldn't resist.

 

I was given this Street Twin when I took my T120 in for repair under the warranty.
I am hoping to get mine back tomorrow after 3 weeks!
I have to admit the Street Twin is a very good bike. Superb handling and very nippy. It was a pleasure to ride and I will be sorry to hand it back.

 

That is a good question and one that I have asked myself.
There is no doubt that the Street Twin handles far better than the T120, is lighter and overall far easier to ride (for me) because it is slightly lower.
However..............it lacks the looks of my Bonnie and I can notice the difference in power.
Would I swap the Bonnie for it?
NO.
Would I buy one?
YES.............WOULDN'T HESITATE!